A journey, not a race: India’s prospects for autonomous drive

If an autonomous vehicle can master the challenges of Indian roads, it can probably drive anywhere in the world. Megan Lampinen investigates

Think autonomous vehicles, think India? Not usually. The country’s high road fatality statistics – 175,000 deaths per year – make it an ideal candidate for the potentially game-changing technology, but the challenges are daunting. Infamous congestion, poorly maintained road networks and infrastructure and lack of traffic regulation make for a serious challenge. So too does the hefty investment required by government and vehicle manufacturers. “There are a lot of question marks around autonomous vehicles in India,” admitted Kaushik Mukherjee, Senior Director, Engineering, Ola Play, at Indian ride-hailing company Ola….